Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, you decide?

Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, you decide?

Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace are two popular cloud-based solutions that offer productivity apps, email, file storage, communication, and collaboration tools for businesses of all sizes. But how do they compare in terms of features, pricing, and security? Here is a brief overview of some of the main differences between them.

Before delving into the comparison, are you thinking about switching from one platform to another? If so, you might be particularly interested in the process of migrating from Google Workplace to Microsoft 365. If you’re pondering over making this transition, you’ll find many helpful guides and tutorials online to assist you.

Differences between Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace

File/Cloud Storage

One of the most noticeable differences between Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace is the amount of storage they provide per user. Microsoft 365’s Business Basic plan offers 1 TB of file storage per user, while Google Workspace’s Business Starter plan only offers 30 GB of combined file and email storage per user. However, Google Workspace’s higher-tier plans offer more storage than Microsoft 365’s equivalent plans: 2 TB or 5 TB per user for Business Standard or Business Plus plans respectively, compared to 1 TB per user for Business Standard or Business Premium plans.

It’s essential to note how each platform manages its storage differs too. Take Microsoft 365; it teams up with OneDrive to offer cloud storage and ensure your files are synchronized across different devices for effortless access and sharing. Microsoft 365 has robust file versioning and backup capabilities so that your data is never lost. 

On the other hand, Google Workspace leverages Google Drive, celebrated for its intuitive interface and smooth tie-in with the rest of Google’s app ecosystem. Google Drive supports real-time collaboration, meaning multiple team members can work on the same document simultaneously. This flexibility could benefit teams working together closely, regardless of geographical location. Nonetheless, the two can be put together to benefit your company’s productivity.

Email

Both Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace use their own email clients: Outlook for Microsoft 365 and Gmail for Google Workspace. Outlook has more advanced features such as scheduling assistant, shared calendars, task management, and offline access. Gmail has a simpler interface and integrates well with other Google apps such as Calendar, Meet, and Chat. Both email clients offer spam filtering, encryption, archiving, and data loss prevention.

In addition to the mentioned features, Outlook and Gmail have unique advantages. 

Outlook’s integration with Microsoft tools like Teams and OneDrive facilitates collaboration and scheduling, which is ideal for a corporate environment. Gmail, meanwhile, excels in search and sorting features, thanks to Google’s search technology. It offers features like ‘nudges’ for email follow-ups, intelligent replies, and a ‘priority inbox’ that helps manage emails by learning user habits. 

Ultimately, the choice between the two platforms hinges on individual preferences and business needs.

Productivity Apps

Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace both offer a suite of productivity apps that include word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, note-taking, and form creation tools. The Microsoft 365 apps are Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Forms; Google Workspace’s apps are Docs, Sheets, Slides, Keep, and Forms. Microsoft 365’s apps have more functionality and formatting options than Google Workspace’s apps, but they also require more bandwidth and processing power to run smoothly. Google Workspace’s apps are cloud-native and can run on any device with a web browser. Both suites allow real-time collaboration, version history, and offline access.

Communication and Collaboration

Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace both offer communication and collaboration tools that include video conferencing, instant messaging, team chat, and project management. Microsoft 365’s tools are Teams, Skype, Yammer, and Planner; Google Workspace’s tools are Meet, Chat, Groups, and Currents. Teams has more features than Meet such as breakout rooms, polls, whiteboard, and live captions, but Meet has a simpler interface and can accommodate up to 250 participants per call compared to Teams’ limit of 100 participants. Chat and Yammer are similar in functionality to team chat platforms that integrate with other apps; Groups and Currents are similar in functionality to social networking platforms that allow users to create communities and share content.

Security

Both Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace have strong security measures in place to protect their users’ data from unauthorized access or loss. They both use encryption at rest and in transit; they both offer multi-factor authentication; they both comply with various industry standards such as GDPR; HIPAA; ISO; etc.. However; there are some differences in how they handle security updates; backups; recovery; etc. For example; Microsoft 365 allows users to control when they receive security updates; while Google Workspace applies them automatically without user intervention. Microsoft 365 also provides more granular backup options such as item-level restore; while Google Workspace relies on its version history feature for restoring files.

Conclusion

Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace are both powerful cloud-based solutions that can help businesses improve their productivity; efficiency; and collaboration. However; they have different strengths and weaknesses depending on the needs and preferences of each business. Therefore; it is important to compare them carefully before choosing one over the other.

Check out what’s new on our YouTube channel. Subscribe to follow for the latest videos and news in the ecosystem.

What to expect from iPhone 15

What to expect from iPhone 15

Hello, fellow Apple fans! Are you ready for some juicy rumors about the upcoming iPhone 15? Well, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve scoured the web for some of the most anticipated features of the next-generation iPhone, and I’m here to share them with you. But be warned: these are not confirmed by Apple, so take them with a grain of salt. Or a whole shaker, if you prefer.

Here are some of the features that we might see on the iPhone 15:

A USB-C port

Yes, you read that right. The iPhone 15 could finally ditch the Lightning port and adopt the universal USB-C standard that is already used by many Android phones and laptops. This would make charging and data transfer much easier and faster, and also reduce e-waste. But don’t throw away your Lightning cables just yet: Apple might still keep them for some models or accessories.

A smaller dynamic island cutout

The notch on the iPhone has been a controversial design choice since it was introduced on the iPhone X. Some people love it, some people hate it, and some people just don’t care. But if you’re one of those who wish for a more seamless screen experience, you might be happy to know that the iPhone 15 could feature a smaller notch that adapts to different scenarios. For example, it could shrink when watching videos or playing games, and expand when using FaceTime or Face ID.

A periscope telephoto camera

One of the most impressive features of some Android phones is their ability to zoom in on distant objects without losing much detail. This is achieved by using a periscope lens that bends light through a prism inside the phone’s body. The iPhone 15 could adopt this technology and offer up to 10x optical zoom or even more digital zoom. This would make your photos look amazing from any distance.

Improved image processing

Speaking of photos, the iPhone 15 could also improve its image processing capabilities by using artificial intelligence and machine learning. This would allow for better noise reduction, dynamic range, color accuracy, and portrait mode effects. You could also expect more creative modes like astrophotography or night mode timelapse.

A redesigned titanium body

If you’re tired of cracking your glass back or scratching your aluminum frame on your iPhone, you might be interested in a more durable material: titanium. The iPhone 15 could feature a titanium body that is stronger and lighter than steel but also more resistant to corrosion and fingerprints. Titanium is also used in aerospace and medical applications, so you know it’s high-quality stuff.

Improved battery life

One of the most common complaints about iPhones is their battery life. No matter how big or efficient they make them, they always seem to run out at the worst possible moment. But fear not: the iPhone 15 could bring a serious battery life boost by using several tricks: faster memory that consumes less power, an improved display driver that regulates brightness better, reverse wireless charging that lets you share juice with other devices, and faster wired charging that fills up your battery in minutes.

New iOS features

Of course, no new iPhone would be complete without new software features as well. The iOS 17 update could bring some exciting changes to your phone experiences such as better FaceTime connectivity and audio with voice isolation and spatial audio, redesigned messages with shared playlists and photo collections, focus updates and changes to notifications with custom profiles and summaries, live text recognition with translation support, improved maps with interactive globes and detailed city views, enhanced privacy protection with app privacy reports and mail tracking prevention, among others.

There you have it: some of the possible features of the iPhone 15 that could make it worth upgrading from your current model (or switching from Android). Of course, these are all based on rumors and leaks so they might change before launch day (or never happen at all).

But hey, that’s part of the fun of being an Apple fanboy (or fangirl), right? Let me know what you think about these features in the comments below, and stay tuned for more updates on the iPhone 15!

Check out what’s new on our YouTube channel. Subscribe to follow for the latest videos and news in the ecosystem.

Microsoft brings new Bing AI-powered chatbot assistant to Skype

Microsoft brings new Bing AI-powered chatbot assistant to Skype

Skype is one of the most popular and widely used communication platforms in the world. It allows you to make voice and video calls, send messages and files, and share your screen with anyone, anywhere. But did you know that Skype now has a powerful AI assistant that can make your chats productive and fun? Learn more about the new Bing AI-powered chatbot that is now available in Skype.

Early this month, Microsoft launched a new Bing search engine and Edge browser powered by a next-generation OpenAI large language model. It features new AI chat and compose tools that bring together search, browsing, and chat into one experience across the web. It gives you a unique conversational experience, a better search with complete answers, and the ability to generate content. Microsoft announced it will bring this feature across most of its products. So this is how Microsoft is fusing the new Bing AI-powered chatbot assistant with Skype.

new Bing in skype Microsoft AI-powered chatbot assistant

The new Bing in Skype is powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4 technology which is one of the most advanced AI models in the world. It uses deep learning and natural language processing to generate realistic and relevant responses based on your input. It also uses the latest advancements in AI technology to provide you with the most real-time answers and insights.

Bing will not just be a search engine in Skype even though it’ll leverage search heavily to give you answers. It will act as a conversational agent that will understand your natural language and provide helpful answers to your questions. You can start a chat with Bing anytime by typing @Bing in any chat window. You can ask Bing anything, from factual queries to personal opinions, from trivia to jokes. It can find information, generate content, summarize articles, and more right in Skype.

new bing skype chatbot

For example, if you want to find a recipe for lasagna, you can simply type @Bing lasagna recipe and Bing will show you some relevant results from the web in Skype. If you want to generate a poem about love, you can type @Bing poem love and Bing will write one for you using its creative skills. If you want to summarize the latest news on COVID-19, you can type @Bing summarize COVID-19 news and Bing will give you a brief overview of the current situation.

But that’s not all. Bing also has a voice functionality that allows you to talk to it using voice commands. You can access this feature by tapping on the microphone icon next to the chat box. You can then speak your query or request and Bing will respond with voice as well. This way, you can have a more natural and engaging conversation with Bing without typing anything.

The new Bing in Skype can make your chats more productive by helping you find information quickly and easily. It can also make your chats more fun by generating content for you and entertaining you with jokes and trivia.

Check out what’s new on our YouTube channel. Subscribe to follow for the latest videos and news in the ecosystem.

Here is how to be productive on the go with the free Microsoft Office app

Here is how to be productive on the go with the free Microsoft Office app

The Microsoft Office app is a mobile app that lets you view, create, and edit documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more with Office apps designed for mobile devices and tablets. It serves as a hub to access Microsoft 365 apps in one place including Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive, and OneNote. The app works seamlessly with office 365 to connect you to your documents and content.

Image showing iOS and android  Microsoft Office app

The app helps you to be productive by allowing you to work from anywhere, anytime, with anyone using Office apps for Android and iOS. You can use the Office app for free and download it from Google Play or App Store and access Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other features without a subscription. However, some advanced features may require a Microsoft 365 subscription.

You can scan and save documents with OneDrive document scanning using your phone. Letting you skip the bulky scanner and turn your paper documents, receipts, and whiteboards into PDFs. Another feature that helps you to be productive on the go is co-authoring. You can collaborate with others on Word and PowerPoint documents stored in OneDrive or SharePoint. You can see who else is working on the document and their changes as they happen. We share more on scanning to pdf and co-authoring below.

Here are five things that you might not know about the Microsoft Office mobile app

  • You can scan a document or a whiteboard in Outlook by tapping on the camera icon while composing a mail. The app will automatically trim and enhance the image for you.
  • You can use voice commands to create emails or dictate text in Word or PowerPoint. Just tap on the microphone icon on your keyboard and start speaking.
  • You can use Lens mode to capture text from images or documents. The app will convert it into editable text that you can copy or paste into other apps.
  • You can use Quick Notes to jot down ideas or reminders without opening a new document. Just tap on the note icon at the bottom of your screen and start writing.
  • You can use Smart Lookup to get definitions, synonyms, or related information for any word or phrase. Just select it and tap on Smart Lookup from the menu.

To scan a document with your camera using the Microsoft Office app, follow these steps:

  1. Lay out your paper on a flat surface
  2. Open the Microsoft Office app
  3. Tap Scan to PDF
  4. Adjust corner points if needed
  5. Tap Confirm
  6. Save as PDF
  7. You can also scan multiple pages into one PDF file by tapping Add Page after each scan.

Co-authoring on the go

Co-authoring features allow you to work together with others on Word and PowerPoint files stored online. To co-author with others, you need:

  • A shared storage area such as OneDrive or SharePoint
  • Apps that support co-authoring such as Word or PowerPoint for office mobile

When you open a file that someone else is editing you will see their name at the top of your screen. You will also see their cursor position and changes as they happen. You can also chat with them using Skype for Business by tapping on their name. To invite others to co-author with you just share your file link via email or other apps.

Other exciting features

  • Action pane: A quick way to access common tasks such as signing PDFs converting images into text creating QR codes etc.
  • Lens mode: A powerful tool that lets you capture text from images documents whiteboards etc.
  • Quick Notes: A simple way to jot down ideas and reminders without opening a new document
  • Voice commands: A convenient way to create emails dictate text etc.
  • Smart Lookup: A handy way to get definitions synonyms related information etc.

If you want to learn more about these features please visit this link.

Check out what’s new on our YouTube channel. Subscribe to follow for the latest videos and news in the ecosystem.

How to Share GoPro Videos on Social Media

How to Share GoPro Videos on Social Media

Go-Pro manufactures cameras that are used by vloggers or video bloggers to make videos they showcase on social media. Learn how you can share your amazing GoPro videos online.

Nowadays, it’s tough to get famous on social media because almost everyone is releasing amazing videos. They use GoPro cameras that are sturdy and built to record in extreme conditions like swimming underwater, skiing down a mountain slope and more. GoPro cameras are pretty flexible in terms of file formats. These cameras produce output video files in the standard and widely used MP4 format.

Vloggers also use online video editor to edit and trim videos to create meaningful footage. People use social media platforms like YouTube, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat to share these videos on social media and gain popularity. This helps them establish a name on the internet.

Leveraging GoPro

It takes only a few taps or clicks to share your favorite videos from your GoPro on social media platforms like Instagram. Here are the steps to upload videos on Instagram:

1. Open the GoPro app and select photos or videos from local media.

2. Choose the share icon in the app and then select the Instagram option to upload the video on Instagram. If you are an iPhone user, you can use the stories option and crop the video accordingly.

3. Tap the Instagram button to either upload the video as a story or upload it via Instagram direct.

Uploading from iOS 

Let’s have a look at how to upload GoPro videos on social media:

1. Download the GoPro app on your iOS device.

2. Choose the Photos app and then the GoPro album.

3. Select the share icon and then the required GoPro video.

Uploading from Android

1. Tap on ‘My GoPro Album’ and select ‘Capture’.

2. Choose the video you wish to upload to Instagram.

3. Select the ‘Share’ button and then select the Instagram option.

how to share Gopro videos on tiktok and youtube

How to Use GoPro Studio to Share GoPro Videos

One drawback to uploading videos on social media websites is that you can’t upload long-form videos directly. However, GoPro Studio ensures you don’t encounter this problem. Video files can be easily exported from the GoPro Studio and uploaded to the site of choice.

It is vital that you first edit your video and make sure it’s of the desired length. After editing, you can follow these steps:

  • Save the file to the desired location. Then press the ‘Export’ option.
  • Email the file to yourself. The idea is to share the file through your mobile device since they allow direct sharing of video files to social media platforms.
  • Download the video file to your phone’s memory and then upload the required file on your social media feed.
  • GoPro Studio can run on any Windows PC or Mac. You can use this application effectively to make social media videos on all social media platforms.
  • GoPro Studio also allows you to add custom titles, preferred music, and breathtaking transitions to your videos.

FAQs 

Let’s go through some frequently asked questions about uploading GoPro videos on social media.

What are the different social media platforms on which I can upload videos recorded on my GoPro?

You can upload your GoPro videos on all mainstream social media channels such as Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, etc.

One of the GoPro videos I uploaded on Instagram looked terrible when I played it after posting. Why is that?

Social media channels like Instagram garner a lot of traffic in terms of the target audience. It is tough to maintain the same quality of videos and images uploaded there for all these people. So, Instagram handles this problem by compressing these videos and allowing the audience to play them instantaneously.

Conclusion

  • GoPro provides various ways to share our favorite content like videos, reels, and pictures on our preferred social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat, however, we want.
  • GoPro cameras can effectively record high-quality videos. These videos can, later on, be uploaded to our Instagram stories and posts, which will give us an excellent opportunity to attract followers and engage them in our content.
  • The method is easy and preferred by Android and iOS users, making it easier to use the application by either user.
  • We can upload our videos to mainstream social media in two ways.
    • The first method is connecting the GoPro to our phone and using the GoPro application to upload the required videos. 
    • Another method is to import the videos to our computer and upload them to Instagram through the PC browser.
  • GoPro Studio is an excellent means by which we can easily facilitate sharing of videos across different social media handles. With the help of a PC and a mobile phone, we can seamlessly share any video content to our social media channels.

Check out what’s new on our YouTube channel. Subscribe to follow for the latest videos and news in the ecosystem.